More popular than iPad Nexus7 in Japan

For as long as (modern) tablets have been on the market, Apple has topped the sales charts. The combination of being first to market with hardware, new models that entice a purchase, and an App Store full of software people want to buy, has made for a killer combination. But in one market at least, that domination seems to be coming to an end.A new report by market research company BCN has found the Nexus 7 is now more popular than the iPad in Japan. The iPad still holds a very respectable 40.1 percent of the market, but the Nexus 7 is already up to 44.4 percent.

The main factor in the rise of the Nexus 7 in Japan is the obvious one: price. It is around $102 cheaper than the iPad mini, and $250 cheaper than the iPad $632.95 at Amazon . It also doesn’t hurt that Apple has been unable to meet demand for the iPad mini in the region, which surely must have pushed some to buy the Nexus 7 rather than spend the extra on the larger iPad.

Apple has already reacted once to the onslaught of smaller, cheaper tablets, by releasing the iPad mini. But it remained at a higher price than the competition. Now the question turns to whether what we are seeing in Japan is just a blip, or rather a trend where consumers choose to save money on the hardware and select an Android tablet instead.

Personally, I don’t think it’s going to get any easier for Apple going forward. The tablet as a platform doesn’t have much room left for innovation, and when it does happen it’s in small increments. That means hardware across the board is becoming more equal in terms of feature set, meaning less people will be willing to pay a premium for an iPad.The App Store still remains a major draw to using an Apple device, but you can guarantee Google will continue to refine the Google Play experience and entice more developers to offer high-quality apps using it.

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Apple fans to love the Apple TV - hits the FCC

It’s far from their most successful piece of hardware, but there are plenty of reasons for Apple fans to love the Apple TV. Now it seems the set top boxes are right around the corner from an update, if the recently revealed FCC documents are any indicator, bringing with it a smaller chassis and more efficient hardware inside.The Apple TV is a shiny little box that sits on your entertainment center until you want to push content to a television via AirPlay. There’s no one currently making a wireless playback and gaming service for TVs that comes close to matching the quality of AirPlay, though Intel and Google have certainly figured out that there’s a market for it. While Miracast and WiDi work on getting up to fighting strength, it seems Apple is working on refining the hardware in the Apple TV units.

The software update to iOS this week included a mostly featureless push to the current and previous generation Apple TV. After some digging around by Brin Klug at AnandTech, it seems that the purpose of the update was to prepare for the release of some new hardware.

In the FCC filing, it is made clear that the current design with separate Bluetooth and WiFi antennae is being replaced with a single chip that will handle both through a single antenna. Additionally, the revised Apple TV will feature the new 32nm A5X processor instead of the existing 45nm chip. With everything getting smaller on the inside, it is Apple’s fashion to make the outside slimmer as well, and that’s exactly what we can expect from the next generation device.

With these FCC documents in hand, it seems that Apple shouldn’t be too far away from officially releasing this piece of hardware, and possible announcing new features to compliment the adjusted build. There’s no expected timeframe for this announcement, though with Mobile World Congress right around the corner it wouldn’t be unheard of for Apple to steal the spotlight for themselves with a well-timed launch.

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idea of Apple struggling to compete in the smartphone race

Most Americans can’t fathom the idea of Apple struggling to compete in the smartphone race, but that is exactly what is unfolding in China. In fact, Apple is being beaten by four other local handset makers.

It might be making inroads, but the question is how far Apple can go. It isn’t killing the competition; it’s merely joining in the race. China Wireless has not exactly been hurt since Apple stepped into the arena. The company expects sales to rise 40% this year, thanks to high-demand products like the recently launched Coolpad 8060 phone. It retails for less than $100 — much less than the price of an iPhone 5.

Yes, despite all the glitzy hype that is presented in America when Apple launches a new product in China, a significant majority of consumers there simply cannot afford an iPhone. Samsung is the leader in the region, because of its differentiated product portfolio. Apple needs to start barking up this tree if it wants to grow in China — and based on recent financial happenings at the company, it needs to grow in China.With its one billion residents, a local economy that is resilient and strong enough to produce huge amounts of commerce, and an increasing presence of the global fervor to have the latest and greatest products, China sounds like the perfect dream for multinational companies looking to expand.

So why is it, then, that when a worldwide leader like Apple finally dives off the deep end and plunges hard and fast into the emerging market, it still has a tough time fitting in? Okay, yeah, the price has something to do with it. But it’s more than that.

It’s not just Apple, either. One of the most infamous examples of an American company failing in China is Best Buy. It just wasn’t viable — the company found out that it’s one thing to build a giant store in middle America with low rent and turn a profit from selling low-margin items. That wasn’t able to work in downtown Shanghai, where many successful businesses are tiny stores that sell nothing but high-margin product.

Then there’s eBay, which started to gain an increasingly strong presence in China… until the company decided to cut costs and handle all traffic in the region from US-based servers. That caused huge decreases in load times, leading to a mass exodus that eBay has yet to recover from.

And finally, there are the companies like Walmart, which see their market share in China decrease and yet do little to adjust their business model. China is a wildly fluctuating market, and you have to move fast — and be willing to change — in order to succeed, according to a CNBC report a couple months ago.

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iPad 4th gen 128GB new SKUs point

A recent cut in orders for the 4th gen iPad display suggested there was weakening demand for the Apple tablet. In some markets the Nexus 7 is more popular than the iPad now, but it’s just as likely the iPad mini is eating into iPad sales. But lower than expected demand usually pushes a company to react, and it looks as though Apple may be about to do just that.New SKUs have been discovered by a major retailer that suggest a new 4th gen iPad $689.00 at Amazon Marketplace is coming to market. This wouldn’t be a new generation of iPad, just a new model added to the existing line-up with a few different features.

Apple typically describes their tablets as Good, Better, or Best in terms of the amount of storage they have. In the case of the iPad that’s 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. The new SKUs are as follows:

    ME392LL/A iPad P101 ULTIMATE A-USA
    ME393LL/A iPad P101 ULTIMATE B-USA
    ME406LL/A iPad P103 ULTIMATE A-USA
    ME407LL/A iPad P103 ULTIMATE B-USA

As you can see, there’s 4 new models. The A/B tagging refers to black and white colors, and the P101 and P103 is thought to differentiate the Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi + cellular models. As for the ULTIMATE tag, that refers to storage suggesting we are set to get the option of a 128GB 4th gen iPad.

If such a model does appear, it makes sense that Apple would increase the price in line with what it already does. That means the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad would cost $799, while the Wi-Fi + cellular version would retail for $929.We don’t expect a 5th gen iPad until the fall, so it makes sense to introduce this 128GB model as soon as possible. Maybe we’ll see it in February?

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Apple has confirmed launching 128GB version of the iPad with Retina Display

Yesterday we reported on the appearance of new SKUs for the iPad suggesting that Apple was set to unveil a 128GB model in the near future. It turns out those SKUs were real and we’re set to get a huge increase in iPad tablet storage if you’re willing to pay for it.Apple has confirmed that the 128GB version of the iPad with Retina Display will be available from Tuesday, February 5. There will be black and white versions starting at $799 for the Wi-Fi version and increasing to $929 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. You should be able to pick one up at Apple Stores, through Apple’s online store, and any partner retailers next week.

As for why Apple has decided to introduce a 128GB model, it comes down to the iPad’s increasing use in business environments. Apple says 85 percent of the Global 500 companies use the iPad in some form, and many of them work with large data such as CAD files, X-rays, music, or film. Doubling the available storage is a reaction to that.Apple also sees consumers wanting the extra storage too, though. The company see the increasing number of apps and the files some of them work with as needing the extra space. AutoCAD, Auria, and iWork are all mentioned in this regard.Apart from the additional storage nothing seems to have changed on the iPad. It’s the same spec tablet with a $100 added to the price for that extra storage space.

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its own trademark of Apple Store

Apple has successfully been awarded a trademark for the layout of its Apple Store retail locations. The trademark assures that no other company will try to emulate the very unique structure and design of the company’s retail empire.Among the language of the trademark is verbiage about a “clear glass storefront,” cantilevered shelves, and a line of rectangular tables. Is that enough to warrant a unique trademark? Well, it has been issued so apparently it is. Although, a patent isn’t a legal trump card. Its true validity is never officially declared unless it ends up being defended in court.Of course, in China, creating fake Apple Stores became a passion among certain businessmen in the region. They copied everything from the giant Apple logo out front to the placement of tables and shelves to look just like what you’d find in a real Apple Store. They were even packed with fake Apple mockup products, and staffed by employees wearing what appeared to be official Apple Store shirts but were also fake.

Now obviously, that kind of blatant ripoff would never happen in the US even without a trademark. And of course, a US trademark doesn’t do anything to help Apple stop the activity in China. In other words, the trademark is probably not going to do much good to Apple in the long run.

Even if it does come across a store that seemingly mimics its design (cough *Samsung* cough), any action could go all the way to court where the validity of the trademark would be called into question. Could someone with no knowledge of Apple’s store design have come up with the same idea? If so, Apple might have a tough time proving actual damages.After all, the trademark was previously rejected not once but two times, before it was finally tweaked and given an approval. So its foundation is shaky at best.But this is Apple. Perhaps its primary purpose for getting this trademark was just to brag to the world that its stores are unique.

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Apple has neglected to update or promote the Mac Pro

Most consumers who want to own Apple devices only think about an iPhone, iPod, iPad, MacBook, or iMac. But there is another Apple product that’s aimed at the professional or power home user: the Mac Pro. Prices start at a hefty $2,499, but in return your get a desktop machine with up to 12 cores and therefore a lot of performance.Unfortunately, Apple has neglected to update or promote the Mac Pro line for quite a while and they still rely on Intel’s Xeon processors. Now it seems even if you do want one, soon you won’t be able to across Europe.From March, Apple has announced it will no longer be offering the Mac Pro for sale across all countries within Europe. The reason is one of regulatory requirements. Apparently, Amendment 1 of regulation IEC 60950-1, Second Edition comes into effect on March 1 and the Mac Pro power supply and wiring does not come up to spec. So rather than updating the internals of the machine, which Apple clearly doesn’t want to do, it will instead stop offering it for sale.

If you want a Mac Pro you will have to be quick. The existing stock will likely be sold until February 28, but after that Apple probably won’t be allowed to sell any that are left and will end up recycling them rather than shipping them back to the US. Who knows, we may even see a sale of the hardware to clear it nearer the end of the month.

Apple’s failure to update the Mac Pro demonstrates the changing marketplace for consumers. People want Apple laptops or super thin all-in-one desktops like the new iMac. The market for performance desktops and servers, with Apple’s name on at least, has all but disappeared as far as the company are concerned.

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New iPad Mini expected to have 324ppi display

When Apple first introduced the iPad Mini last year there was some surprise it didn’t have a Retina Display, and yet it still managed to cost more than competing tablets that had higher resolution screens. Even so, the iPad Mini seems to be selling well and even cutting into sales of the iPad in some markets.But what about the second generation iPad Mini we expect to arrive this year? According to the supply chain, Apple is already planning to add a Retina Display to the next Mini, and with it set the bar much higher for what constitutes a high resolution 7-inch tablet.

The 2nd gen iPad Mini is expected to include a 7.9-inch panel with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 supplied by AU Optronics. That’s 324ppi. By comparison, the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7 only manage 216ppi. The 4th gen iPad is 264ppi, and the iPhone 5 manages to just beat it with 326ppi, albeit it on a much smaller display.Such a high resolution display on the smaller iPad will certainly make it stand out from the competition. However, it could also see Apple lose even more sales from its larger iPad $450.00 at Amazon Marketplace . But then, we’re probably going to see a 5th generation iPad appearing later this year, too.A second generation iPad Mini will also require higher performance components in order to drive that new display. It will be interesting to see if Apple can retain the price point and the high level of profit it so desires while managing to deliver both.

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Apple is looking to rectify this problem by applying its cutting-edge glass

There have been a number of so-called smartwatches either trying to or actually making it to market, but they all have one thing in common: they are flat. There’s nothing wrong with a flat-fronted watch display, but it does mean a trade-off has to be made between the size of the display and the watch being too bulky on your wrist.Apparently, Apple is looking to rectify this problem by applying its cutting-edge glass manufacturing knowledge to the watch form factor and developing an iWatch device.The New York Times has been told that Apple is experimenting with a curved glass smartwatch. As with all of Apple’s mobile devices, the watch would run a version of iOS and give users access to Apple’s services. How limited that access would be is something on Apple can decide, but the watch could form the equivalent of an iPhone, or be limited to the functionality of a cloud-connected iPod.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Apple working on a smartwatch. In December last year there was a rumor Apple and Intel were collaborating on a watch with a 1.5-inch OLED display and a launch date before the middle of this year. We’ve also seen the iPod nano turned into a watch, demonstrating that there is the desire to have such an Apple-branded device.Of course, Apple would only release such a device if it met the company’s strict design standards. At the same time, they wouldn’t want a watch drawing sales away from other devices. So it seems unlikely you’d get an Apple smartwatch that acted as a phone without being linked to the iPhone in your pocket.In fact, doesn’t that seem like a more Apple thing to do? Use a smartwatch as the gateway device to your other Apple gadgets tucked safely away in a pocket or bag? It would certainly give you an excuse to buy more, rather than alternative Apple products.

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Apple has quietly cut the price of both the MacBook Pro with Retina display and MacBook Air

Apple and lower pricing are not terms you hear very often in the same sentence, but today you will hear it many times over. Apple has quietly cut the price of both the MacBook Pro with Retina display and MacBook Air, and in the case of the MacBook Pro, the specs have been bumped, too.The entry level 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is now priced at $1,499, where as previously it was $1,699, which is a huge saving. There’s still a $1,699 model, but you get a 2.6GHz dual-core Core i5 processor and 256GB SSD for that extra $200.Both 15-inch MBP Retina laptops have seen a spec boost. The $2,199 version now ships with a 2.4GHz quad-core Core i7 (previously it used a 2.3GHz chip) and the high-end $2,799 model has had its 2.6GHz quad-core Core i7 replaced with a 2.7GHz chip. The RAM has also been doubled from 8GB to 16GB.

The MacBook Air retains its existing spec sheet as far as we can tell, but the 13-inch version with a 256GB SSD has had its price reduced by $100 to $1,399.So if you’re in the market for a MBP$1,999.99 at Amazon Marketplace or Air, you’re probably really glad you didn’t buy one last week, as you’ve now got an extra $100-$200 to spend on accessories or tweaking some of the components before visiting the checkout. These price and spec changes are available immediately, so either head down to a store or visit Apple online to pick one up.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook is apparently open to letting

Apple CEO Tim Cook is apparently open to letting his company sell everything but the kitchen sink. Heck, he might even be open to making kitchen sinks, just as long as they aren’t “crappy.” That is really the only prevailing guideline on Apple’s course for the future.That is in fact a direct quotation . In a presentation at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet conference, Cook said the only thing Apple won’t make is “a crappy product”. As long as there is an idea that is bold and ambitious, Cook says it’s fair game.Okay, so what? Sounds like typical CEO gobbledy-gook, right? Normally that would be the case, but this is an interesting time for Apple. The apparent openness to expand into completely different markets might be a result of a changing dynamic over at the company.

Apple has, of course, been caught up in a strange news cycle over the last several months. It skyrocketed to become the most valuable company in the world, tipping the scales of record stock prices, and then suddenly began to fall off a cliff. This of course brought up piles and piles of negative headlines about how terrible Apple was doing. But then everyone had to be reminded that being the world’s second most valuable company is still a pretty enviable thing.So no one is quite sure what to make of Apple at this moment, which is probably why the question of where the company is headed — and what is fair game for future Apple products — is so relevant right now.Other companies try to stick to one specific niche and be the best at that niche; it looks like Apple is not keen on being one of those companies.

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Apple is facing a potentially very costly and frustrating trademark battle in Brazil

Apple is facing a potentially very costly and frustrating trademark battle in Brazil over use of the name iPhone. As it currently stands, Apple does not hold the trademark on iPhone in Brazil, and has just had its request to register it rejected.The reason for the rejection is another company having previously registered the name as a trademark. IGB Electronica applied for the iPhone trademark in the year 2000. It was granted in 2008. In Brazil, whoever applies for a trademark first gets it, but then has to use it within 5 years.Apple plans to contest that since 2008 IGB has not used the iPhone trademark. However, the 5 year deadline ended with 2012, and IGB states it launched the iPhone Neo One Android smartphone in December. If you want one, you have to purchase it directly from the company through its website or from a single shopping location in Sao Paulo at a cost of $304.

The bad news for Apple is that if the release of the iPhone Neo One counts as using the brand, and therefore the trademark, IGB will retain the trademark until at least 2018.The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) now has 60 days to respond to Apple’s challenge and give a verdict. If it sides with IGB, then Apple has a choice: stop using the iPhone name for its smartphones in Brazil, or head into a very costly and prolonged legal battle centering around intellectual property rights.Apple has enough money on hand to fight any legal battle, for many years, but this is one it definitely wants to avoid. The fate of the iPhone in Brazil is unclear, but if the INPI decision is unfavorable, Apple may be able to pay IGB in a bid to secure a transfer of the trademark, or at least attain some form of license to use it.

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jailbreak process is a battle between Apple

The jailbreak process is a battle between Apple and developers that are usually looking for exploits in their free time. Each version of iOS has offered a new challenge for these elite few, as Apple has fixed the exploit that was found in the previous version. This isn’t a bad thing, especially in cases where the vulnerability could be used by those with malicious intent to cause real harm to your iDevice. Unfortunately, we’ve reached a point where Apple has spent considerable time and money sealing up these exploits. The Evasi0n jailbreak is so impressive because it takes an entirely new approach to delivering an exploit that allows root access to iOS.Many of the previous jailbreak techniques relied on a memory corruption process that escalated the user privileges from the normal user state to super user. Evasi0n doesn’t use this method, most likely because Apple’s recent anti-exploit work has removed this as a possible point of entry. Instead, an application is installed on the iPhone or iPad that takes advantage of the open nature of Apple’s backup files.

When you back up files on your iPhone or iPad, the backup can be applied to any other iDevice. This is a fantastic feature in the event that something happens to your iPad. You can buy a replacement piece of hardware and have all of your apps and data restored in minutes. It’s a killer tool that isn’t provided by any other mobile platform right now.

That also means that this data isn’t digitally signed, and the operating system relies on a super user to apply the backup and reboot your device. This provided Evasi0n with an entry point to inject the necessary files within the backup data. From here, an app is created that iOS treats as though it was part of the backup. This app modified the rules that govern how iOS responds to external requests made by the computer you are currently connected to.

Then the app on your PC can deliver Cydia to the device so it can be installed once super user status has been permanently accessed. Alongside Cydia is a new configuration file that is injected into the filesystem. This file is activated when the iPhone or iPad reboots, which in turn runs Evasi0n during boot. This makes sure that, every time the device boots, you are granted the Super User status to do most of the things you find in Cydia.

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